Bellator Books Thursday Debut for 2013

Bellator Season 8 will begin Thursday January 10 in New Jersey. The event – likely Bellator 85 – will be the first to air on Spike TV and could signal a new regular day for the promotion. The NJSACB confirmed the date was reserved by the promotion. MMAJunkie first reported the story.

Bellator, whose seventh season currently airs Fridays on MTV2, has not yet confirmed the switch as of this post. The promotion, and their broadcast partner Spike TV, have been in a chess match with the UFC over when to air their weekly shows.

MMAJunkie also reports that Bellator is considering a 10PM start time so that Spike TV can air pro wrestling show TNA as a lead-in for the MMA promotion. The move would provide a similar lead-in that the UFC’s “The Ultimate Fighter” experienced in the shows first season, which aired on Spike.